GUJAR KHAN: Daily commuters traveling from Gujar Khan and Sohawa have urged the Punjab government to extend the Green Bus service up to Rawalpindi city, saying the current route ending at Rawat’s T Chowk leaves hundreds of passengers dependent on costly private transport.
Passengers who rely on the government backed bus service say the facility has eased travel for many residents of Gujar Khan and Sohawa. However, the absence of a direct connection to Rawalpindi has created difficulties for office workers, lawyers and students who must travel further into the district headquarters for work and education.
Many commuters say the gap between Rawat and central Rawalpindi forces them to switch to private vans or rickshaws, increasing both travel time and expenses. Advocate Kaleem Ullah Bhatti, who regularly travels to district courts in Rawalpindi, suggested that the Green Bus route running between Raja Bazaar and Sawan Adda should be extended to Rawat. According to him, bridging this ten kilometre gap would create a smooth and affordable travel corridor for hundreds of daily passengers.
Passengers also raised concerns over the condition of existing terminals. At the Gujar Khan stop, commuters complained that safety concerns previously highlighted by the National Highway and Motorway Police were ignored when the terminal location was finalised. They said a safer and more spacious bus bay was available nearby but was not utilised.
Similar issues were reported at the Rawat T Chowk terminal where commuters said uncovered manholes and open sewerage drains pose serious risks for passengers, especially children and elderly travelers. The absence of proper shelters at the stop has also left commuters exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Residents further demanded the addition of several missing stops along the Sohawa and Gujar Khan corridor to improve accessibility. Officials from the Punjab Transport Company said a technical team along with engineers from Nespak will soon inspect the route to address safety concerns and review proposals for route expansion and additional bus stops.
